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Black and Blue Burger

I cannot believe that it is already Saturday. Where did the week go? Wow. Saturday mornings, during this time of year, are filled with hockey. Typically, we are at the arena all morning long, from 7:30am to as late as 1:00pm. Today the schedule of games allowed us to split up. My wife took two of the kids for the early games and I am taking one for a noon game. I did not grow up with hockey and have never played a game on ice. I have played many a street hockey game though and totally remember those days on side street in Bright’s Grove. Street hockey totally symbolizes growing up in Canada! I live in Toronto and it is currently illegal to play street hockey on roads or laneways with a fine of $65. One the one hand, I can sort of understand the reason to not allow street hockey on some roads, but on the other hand, there are streets in our own subdivision that get little traffic and would be great to have a street hockey game. It seems anymore that people do not connect with their neighbours like used to happen years ago. People are busy. I remember we used to have neighbourhood picnics in the community I grew up in. Those types of connections are rare anymore. Street hockey is one example of community life and I hope that it finds its way back to the side streets of Toronto.

Ok, enough of my rant! My oldest son turned 9 this week and I have already shared with you the cupcakes he got as his dessert. Our kids always get to pick their birthday meal and Ben has, for a while, known that he wanted homemade hamburgers. A number of months ago, while the temperature was still decent, I barbecued some burgers. For Ben’s and mine, I chopped up a couple jalapeno peppers and mixed it in with the meat. He has remembered that and requested it, along with fresh cut french fries. I was happy to make that for my boy!

Along with the minced jalapeno peppers in the ground beef I decided to ‘kick it up a notch’, as Emeril would say. I coated the ground beef with blackened seasoning and blackened them on a skillet. Blackening is a distinctly Cajun cooking technique, popularized by Chef Paul Prudhomme. To blacken something, you rub the meat with a mix of blackened spices and cook it on a cast iron skillet at very high heat. A black crust of spices is created around the meat and juices are locked inside. It tastes wonderful!

To round out this black and blue burger, I made a simple blue cheese spread. It is rich and creamy and compliments the spices of the blackened burger. Another burger topping we had was onion crisps. The recipe for that is from a previous post, which is found here. After dinner Ben said this was the best burger he has ever had!

Black and Blue Burger

A spicy blackened burger with a blue cheese and mayonaise spread. Jalapeno peppers are mixed into the beef to add some extra heat to the cajun spices.

Prep Time: 10minutes

Cook Time: 15minutes

Total Time: 25minutes

Servings: 6burgers

Ingredients

2poundsextra lean ground beef

2jalapeno peppers, minced

3tsppaprika

1tspcayenne

1/2tspblack pepper

1tspsalt

1tspgarlic powder

1tsponion powder

1/2tspthyme

1/2tsporegano

1/4cupblue cheese

1/3cupmayonnaise

Instructions

Cream together the blue cheese and mayonaise. Keep in the fridge until needed.

Knead together the ground beef with the minced jalapeno peppers and form 6 burger patties.

Make the blackened seasoning by mixing together the spices. Rub the burgers on both sides with the blackened seasoning.

Heat a cast iron skillet quite hot. Place the burgers. They sear and create a blackened crust. After about 3-4 minutes, flip the burger to create the crust on the other side. Cook the burger to your preference.

Top the burger blue cheese spread, onion crisps and any other desired toppings.

Did you try this recipe?

11 comments

Oh my husband is going to love these burgers! They will be on the weekend menu. Thanks for dropping by my blog today and leaving a comment. I haven’t had a comment in so long I was beginning to wonder if anyone is even reading!

Another great Dad award to you… this burger looks wonderful. It’s got some pretty complex flavors for your little man… so tell him he’s got an adult palate. 🙂 I’m glad he loved it so much. His birthday dinner looked fabulous (especially if it ended with those wonderful angry bird cupcakes).

A few things: 1. How the heck is BEN NINE?!?!?!?! 2. I’m making these tonight. They look wonderful! C. Did you catch that? 4. I saw an ad for Top Chef Canada and I hope you’re on it and just not telling us yet. 5. I love Toronto, but some of its bylaws are ridiculous. Hockey at Yonge & Bloor? Not a good idea. Hockey on a seldom travelled neighbour street? Heck yes!

LOVE, love, love the idea of using blackened seasoning on a burger! We do blackened catfish all of the time, but never thought about burgers! Thanks for sharing your idea. Love the addition of blue cheese as well! Happy belated Bday to your son!